Side frame



April 23,. 1929. B w, KAEL 1,716,624

SIDE FRAME Filed Dec. 8, 1925 Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDE FRAME.

Application filed December This invention relates to side frames for railway car trucks and, more particularly, to such frames formed with journal boxes cast integral therewith.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is theprovision of a cast steel side frame formed .with integral journal boxes at the ends thereof, the tension member of said frainc being formed with a web which runs fi'om the lower corner of the bolster opening to a point slightly below the upper inner corner of the journal box where it isy attached to the side wall thereof, the compression member web being extended straight from above the bolster opening to a point above the journal box on approximately the vei'tical center line thereof and from there bent downwardly to merge with the outer'side wall of said journal box. j

An object of my invention is to provide a cast steel side frame which is interchangeable with the A. R. A. standard side frame but iii which certain of the material therein is redistributed for greatly improving the strength thereof without increase in Weight. Another object of my invention is the improvement in cast steel side frame design which involves the construction of a side frame equivalent to the A. R. A. standard side frame in all respects except strength, being much vstronger than such frame in strength, by lowering the neutral axis and decreasing the slope of the diagonal end f portions of the tension member so that said tension member and, more particularly, the lower web thereof intersects the journal boxes a slight but material distance below the upper inner corners thereof rather than being curved at itsouter ends and merging with the 'journal box roofs, the compression member and particularly the web thereof being extended straight from the upper corners of the bolster opening to points on the vertical center lines of the journal boxes and from there bent downwardly and curved to meet with `the outer side Walls of said journal boxes, said tension and compression members in this way being so positioned that 50 their neutral axis intersect substantially on the vertical center lines of the journal boxes and relatively close to said journal boxes, :raid construction also involving the improve- 8, 1925. Serial No. 74,152.

mentin strength characteristics of the frame by eliminating secondary stresses therein.

A .further object of my invention is t-he provision of a cast steel side frame for railway car trucks formed with integral journal boxes at .the ends thereof, the connection bei'einfoi'ced preferably or gusset portions, the lower marginal edges of which make approximately the same angle with the tension member as they do .with the inner wall of t l e journal box and, in a pre ieired construction, said reinforcing gilsseis are substantially equilateral triangles in outline.

Other. objects of the invention relating the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

eferring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by tie appended claims:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one half of a cast steel side frame embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan of that ortion of a side frame illustrated in Eigure 1.

Figures 3, 4, and 5, are detailed sectional views of the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, a preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a cast steel side frame formed with a compression member 1, tension member 2, bolster columns 3 forming a strut spacing the intermediate portions of sai compression and tension members, the ends of said compression and tension members merging together and integrally united with journal boxes 4. It will be apparent that, because of the spacing of the bolster columns 3 and the intermediate portions of the compression and tension members, a bolster or window opening 5 is formed between said bolster columns and substantially triangular openings 6 are formed on the outside of said bolster columns., the outer portions of said triangular openings being defined between converging compression and tension members.

For purposes of illus( ration, l ha ve shown found that a satisfactory a side frame in which the compression member 1 is formed of generally inverted shape in cross section and comprises an upper web 7 and depending flanges 8 on opposite sides thereof. The lower outer edges of said flanges 8 may be reinforced by a iib 9 which extends along the major portion of the length of said compression member or between the extreme ends of the triangular openings 6.

The tension member 2, beneath the window opening 5, is preferably formed generally box shape in cross section, that is, it comprises upper and lower webs 10 and 11, respectively, and upright flanges or connecting web portions 12 extending therebetween. Beyond the window opening 5, however, the tension member 2 is preferably formed generally channel or U shape in cross section, the upper web 10 being continued from ap# proximately the lower corners of the bolster opening upwardly and outwardly, as the lower web of the diagonal end portions of the tension member, straig t to the inner adjacent walls of the journal boxes where it joins therewith a small but material distance below the upper inner corners of the journal boxes.

Although I do not wish to be restricted to any specific dimensions, yet with a seventy ton cast steel side frame, it has been distance below the upper corners of the journal boxes for the web of the tension member to meet said journal boxes is about one inch. Using such a dimension would mean that the upper surface or plane of the tension member we 10, if continued, would intersect slightly below or approximately at the vertex of the internal angle formed at the upper inner the journal boxes between the planes of the linner surfaces of the side and upper walls of said journal boxes, or extend substantially tangent to the filet adjacent said vertex. The point of union between the web 10 of the tension member and the side wall of the journal box is important and its position is specified quite accurately in that various designs may come fairly close to this construction but no design is known of in which the desirable results secured by the construction, here disclosed, are obtained.

Extending from the sides beyond the bolster opening 5 are the upstanding flanges 13, the upper edges of which are reinforced by outstanding ribs 14. The connection between the web 10 and the adjacent wall of the journal box 4 is preferably reinforced by a plurality of webs or gusset portions 15 spaced inwardly but adjacent to the flanges 13, as shown particularly in Fig'ure 2.

of the web 1() These reinforcing websg 15 are preferably formed so that their lower or free edges extend at approximately the same angle with both the web 10 and the inner side wall of the journal box. In a preferred embodiment of my invention, such as here shown, in which the inclined portions at the web 10 extend approximately 30 to the horizontal thereby making an angle of ly 60 with ,the adapproximate jacent wall of the journal box, the free edges of the gusset portions 15 preferably extend at approximately .60 with respect to both the web 10 and said adjacent journal box wall. From the foregoing,YY it will be apparent that said gusset connections or webs are preferably approximately equilateral triangles in outline. For further reinforcing the connection between web 10 and the journal box, said web may be flared outwardly where it meets the side wall of the journal box, as indicated at 16. For lightening the weight of the frame, the web 10 may be cored outl or omitted at the central portion adjacent the journal box, as indicated at 17.

The lower web 11 of the tension member 2 outwardly to beyond the bolster opening 5 is preferably bifurcated and curved upwardly, as indicated at 18, and extended to merge with the web v10. -By bifurcating the web 11 beyond the bolster opening 5 and gradually decreasing the width of the bifurcated portions, material is saved without sacrificing strength of the casting, and moulding operations are facilitated. The

web 10, beneath the bolster opening 5, lis preferably relatively wide and` provided with spring seating bosses 19 for the accommodation of the bolster springs. To either sideof the bolster opening 5, the web ll) is decreased in width land merged into the outer side walls of the flanges 13 of the diagonal portions of the tension member 2. The relatively wide portion of the web 10, beneath the bolster opening 5, is preferably braced with respect to the flange ory connecting web portions 12 by means of triangular gussets or webs 20.

The portions of the compression member 1 beyond the continued outwardly and downwardly to merge with the tension member 2 and the journal boxes 4. Preferably the web 7 is continued straight from above the bolster columns 3 to above the journal boxes 4 and, preferably on the vertical center lines of said journal boxes, the web 7 is preferably bifurcated, bent downwardly and curved to merge with the outer side walls and roofs of the' journal boxes. The web 7 is preferably so bifurcated and cut away, as indicated at 21, that at the point of juncture with the journal box, said web has substantially merged into the side flanges ber. The 'side flanges 8, as will be apparent from a consideration of Figure 1, are curve at their outer edges to correspond with the bolster opening 5, are prefer- [y 8 of the memf 3o central portion, as indie 35 without increasing 4e slightly 60 curved beneath the bolster 05 wall thereof slightly 5 desired, integral'brake-hanger brackets 22 may be provided on the inner flange 8 of the compression member 1 adjacent its junction with the bolster columns 3.

The bolster column guides are preferably l10 channel shape in cross section to correspond with the construction of the compression and tension members and are formed with inner substantially vertical webs 23 and outstanding flanges 24 rigidified along their outer edges by ribs or beading 25. The ribs 25 are preferably extended to merge with the ribs 9 and 14 so that continuous strengthening ribs are formed around the triangular openingsl 6. At its upper end, the web 23 is 2e preferably offset and filleted, as indicated at 26, and merges into the depending flanges 8 of the compression member 1. At its lower portion, said web is preferably offset, as indicated at 27, and continued s downwardly in a substantially vertical di rection to merge with the web 10 of the tension member. At' its lower end. the web 23 may be flared outwardly, as indicated at 28, and bifurcated and cut away adjacent its ted at 29.

In accordance with the preceding disclosure, it will be apparent that I have invented a side frame involving a redistribution of the metal `in certain portions thereof so that, the weight of the frame, a material increase is effected in the strength thereof. That is, by continuing the web of the tension member straight from the lower corners of; the bolster opening to points below the upper inner corners of the journal boxes and continuing the web of the compression member straight from above the bolster columns outwardly and downwardly to points on the vertical axes of the journal boxes so that the neutral axis of said members intersect approximately on said ver-tical axis, a very desirable disposition of material is effected so that secondary stresses are materially reduced.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A truck side frame comprising tension and compression members, journal boxes integrally connected to the frame 'adjacent the ends of said members, bolster guide columnsspacing intermediate portionsy of said memers and defining an opening therebetween, said tension member being formed with a web portion extending below said opening, guide columns and continued straight to either side thereof diagonally upward from approximately the lower corners of the opening to the adjacent journal box where it is attached to the side below the upper inner corner,

i box to join therewith slightly below j where it said compression member being formed with a web extending above the opening and continued straight from either side thereof diagonally downward to a point above the adjacent journal box, on substantiallythe vertical center line thereof, from whence it is curved downwardly to merge with the outer side wall yof said journal box. 2.- A truck side frame comprising tension and compression members, said tension member being formed substantially box shape along the intermediate portion thereof and U shape along the diagonal end portions thereof with a lower web and upstanding flanges on either side of said web, said compression member being formed generally channel shape in cross section with an upper web and depending flanges on either side of said web, the flanges of said members merging at their ends, journal boxes integrally connected to the frame adjacent the ends of said members, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of the compression and tension members and defining a bolster opening therebetween, the 'upper web of said tension member below the bolster opening being continued straight from either side thereof diagonally' upward as the vlower web of the diagonal end portions of member to the adjacent journal the upper inner corner thereof, the web of said compression member extending above the bolster opening curved and continued straight from either side thereof diagonally downward to a point above the journal box where it is curved and continued downwardllOy and outwardly to merge with said journal 3; A truck side frame comprising tension i and compression members, journal boxes integrall connected vto said frame adjacent the ends of said members, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of the compression and tension members and spaced to leave a' bolster opening therebetween, said tension member beneath saiel' bolster opening being formed box shape in cross section withfan upper' web extending beneath said opening and continued straightr from either side thereof diagonally upward as the lower web of the end portions of said said tension tension member from the lower corner of above the journal box roof substantially on .the vertical center line of said journal box is curved downwardly and merges with the outer side wall of said journal box.

4. A truck side frame comprising tension and compression members, journal boxes integrally connected to the frame adjacent the ends of said members, columns spacing intermediate portions of said members and defining a bolster opening therebetween, said tension member having a web which is continued straight from either side of the bolster opening diagonally upward from the lower corner of said opening to the adjacent journal box at a point a small but material distance below the upper inner corner thereof where it joins with the journal box side wall, the connection with said side wall being reinforced by triangular gusset means, the lower edge of whichy is diagonally disz posed, sloping in the opposite direction at an angle correspondino` to the diagonal disposition of the ends of the tension member.

5. I truck side frame comprising tension and compression members, journal boxes integrally connected to the frame adjacent the ends of said members, columns spacing intermediate portions of said members and defining a bolster opening therebetween, said tension member having a web which is continued straight from either side of the bolster opening diagonally upward from the lower corner' of said opening to the adjacent journal box at a point a small but material' distance below the upper inner corner thereofwhere it joins with the journal box side wall, the connection with said side wall being reinforced by a plurality of upright gusset portions extending from the web of tension member to the adjacent/side wall of the the journal box, said gusset portions being pproximately equilateral triangles in outine.

6. A truck side frame comprising tension and compression members, journal boxes integrally connected to said members adjacent the ends thereof, and columns spacing intermediate portions of ,the compression an `tension members and defining-a bolster opening therebetween, said compression member being formed with a web extending above the bolster opening and continued straight from either side thereof diagonally downward from the upper corner of said bolster opening to a point directly above the journal box where it is bent downwardly and continued to merge with the outer side wall of said journal box, said tension member e ing box shaped in section between the columns with the upper web continued therebeneath and forming the agonalend portions of said member.

7 In a truck side frame, the combination with tension and compression members and an interposed strut, of journal boxes inltegrally connected to the end portions lof said frame, a lower web of the tension member extending straight outward and upward and meeting the inner side walls of said journal boxes below the roofs thereof, said walls being connected to the adjacent portions of said tension member by webs, the lower edges of said webs making approximately the same angle with the tension member as they do with the journal box wall.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BYERS w. KABEL.

lower web of di, 

